Bitts

King James Dictionary

Bitts, n. plu. from the same root as bite. A frame of two strong pieces of timber fixed perpendicularly in the fore part of a ship, on which to fasten the cables,when she rides at anchor. There are also top-sail sheet bitts, paul-bitts, carrick-bitts, &c.

Bitts, To put round the bitts as, to bitt the cable, in order to fasten it or to slacken it out gradually, which is called veering away.

Webster's Dictionary

(n. pl.) A frame of two strong timbers fixed perpendicularly in the fore part of a ship, on which to fasten the cables as the ship rides at anchor, or in warping. Other bitts are used for belaying (belaying bitts), for sustaining the windlass (carrick bitts, winch bitts, or windlass bitts), to hold the pawls of the windlass (pawl bitts) etc.